Ultrasound probe couplers and related methods

Abstract

Couplers for ultrasound probes can have a solid coupler body with a cavity having a malleable shape so as to be able to be conform to and/or self-attach to the end of the probe by a user pressing the coupler body against the ultrasound probe so that the coupler body takes on the underlying shape of the ultrasound probe while the exterior body can retain its pre-attached shape.

That which is claimed: 
     
       1. An ultrasound coupler, comprising:
 a semi-rigid, malleable ultrasound coupler body having a self-supporting, three-dimensional shape with a sidewall extending about an open cavity over a floor, 
 wherein the ultrasound coupler body is a unitary member configured to be press-fit to an ultrasound probe so that upon press-fitting the end of the ultrasound probe resides in the open cavity and the ultrasound coupler self-attaches to the ultrasound probe, 
 wherein the unitary member of the coupler body comprises a polyhydric alcohol, a thickening agent, and a surfactant, 
 wherein the polyhydric alcohol comprises propylene glycol and/or dipropylene glycol, and 
 wherein the thickening agent is selected from sodium stearate, potassium stearate, magnesium stearate, aluminum monostearate, sodium oleate, sodium palmitate, sodium arachidate, sodium behenate, diethylamine stearate, triethylamine stearate, triethylemine oleate, and combinations thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler body has a lubricious bottom surface. 
     
     
       3. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the floor has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the sidewall. 
     
     
       4. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler body is formed of a material that self-lubricates and dries as it is applied to skin of a subject to thereby facilitate sliding of the coupler and the probe as a unitary assembly. 
     
     
       5. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewall extends straight above the floor or tapers outward therefrom, and wherein the sidewall has a top surface that defines a top of the coupler. 
     
     
       6. The coupler of  claim 5 , wherein the sidewall defines a flat top surface of the coupler and a perimeter that extends about the open cavity. 
     
     
       7. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler body is monolithic. 
     
     
       8. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler body comprises propylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, sodium stearate, and polypropylene glycol ether of myristyl alcohol. 
     
     
       9. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler body has a bottom surface that is tacky or sticky to touch. 
     
     
       10. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the coupler body is held in a container prior to use. 
     
     
       11. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein an ultrasound probe, when in combination with the coupler, has an end that is held in the cavity of the coupler. 
     
     
       12. The coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising an ultrasound gel in the cavity of the coupler. 
     
     
       13. A method of evaluating a subject, comprising:
 manually pressing a coupler of  claim 1  with a self-supporting, three dimensional shape against an outer end portion of an ultrasound probe to attach the coupler to the probe with the coupler providing a skin to ultrasound probe interface; 
 sliding the probe and the coupler together as a unitary member over skin of subject to obtain ultrasound images; and 
 detaching the coupler from the probe after an ultrasound imaging session. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising applying or releasing material of the bottom surface of the coupler body onto the skin of the subject in response to the sliding step. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 13 , wherein in response to the sliding step, the coupler releases or sheds material that self-dries on the skin of the patient during the imaging session. 
     
     
       16. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises a propoxylated fatty alcohol. 
     
     
       17. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant comprises a polyethylene glycol ether of a C 12 -C 22  fatty alcohol and/or a polypropylene glycol ether of a C 12 -C 22  fatty alcohol. 
     
     
       18. The coupler of  claim 1 , further comprising water and/or tetrasodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). 
     
     
       19. The coupler of  claim 1 , wherein the polyhydric alcohol is present in a concentration in a range of about 1% to about 90% by weight of the coupler, the thickening agent is present in a concentration in a range of about 1% to about 15% by weight of the coupler, and the surfactant is present in a concentration in a range of about 1% to about 30% by weight of the coupler. 
     
     
       20. The ultrasound coupler of  claim 4 , wherein the material deposited on the subject's skin from the coupler body during use may be in an amount of about 0.1 mg/cm 2  to about 10 mg/cm 2 .